Hats off, jackets open, hands out of your pockets, tuck in your shirt — these are the things we hear the guards constantly say everyday as we traverse from our unit to the chow hall. Of course we have our hats on and jackets buttoned because we have to walk outside to get to the chow hall and it is 16 degrees F outside. It is now a habit for me to immediately remove my hat and unbutton my jacket when I enter the doors. I say “Success to new habits.”
One interesting thing for me is how many prisoners here are in wheelchairs. I estimate 100-110 elderly prisoners here who use a wheelchair. I help them if they need to go up a ramp or need additional assistance. What are they doing here? Who can them harm now? What is the cost of housing them when they may not necessarily need to be here. These are some of the thoughts that go through my mind.
I am now up to 30 Spanish words and will start making sentences when I am close to 100 words memorized. Six book reports are written up & submitted to Prison Professors Talent. I have one more book report written in long-hand, but probably won’t be able to type it up until tomorrow as we have limited time on the computers at FMC Lexington. My swearing is down to no more than 2 words per day (usually 0-1 word) and I don’t consider the word “ass” as offensive as the F-word or taking the Lord’s name in vain (which I have never done). Still, I am moving in the right direction on this front.
I have hardly watched any TV, but I did take a 45 minute break Sunday night after reading & writing so much. I suppose a little break never hurt anyone.
Dennis Zeedyk